Owns a credit card in South Africa

South Africa: Owns a credit card was 9.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat

Latest (2024)
9.7%
Change on year
down 3.4%
World rank
29th
of 115 countries
All-time high
13.5%
in 2014
All-time low
7.8%
in 2011
Years of data
5
2011–2024

Owns a credit card in South Africa, 2011–2024

0510152011201720242011: 7.8 % age 15+2014: 13.5 % age 15+2017: 8.9 % age 15+2021: 10 % age 15+2024: 9.7 % age 15+

Source: Global Findex Database. Measured in % age 15+.

Analysis

South Africa recorded 9.7% for owns a credit card in 2024.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 28.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, owns a credit card in South Africa peaked at 13.5% in 2014 and was at its lowest, 7.8%, in 2011.

South Africa ranks 29th of 115 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Owns a credit card in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Owns a credit card (% age 15+) in South Africa, 2011 to 2024.
Year % age 15+ Change
2011 7.8%
2014 13.5% +73.7%
2017 8.9% -34.1%
2021 10.0% +12.8%
2024 9.7% -3.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2010s 10.0% 7.8% 13.5% 3
2020s 9.8% 9.7% 10.0% 2

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 26 Iran, Islamic Republic of 12.4% compare
  2. 27 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 11.3% compare
  3. 28 Iraq 10.1% compare
  4. 30 Senegal 9.1% compare
  5. 31 Colombia 8.7% compare
  6. 32 Tajikistan 8.6% compare

See the full ranking of 125 places →

More reference data data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is owns a credit card in South Africa?
Owns a credit card in South Africa was 9.7% in 2024, according to Global Findex Database.
What is the highest owns a credit card recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 13.5% in 2014.
What is the lowest owns a credit card recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 7.8% in 2011.
How does South Africa rank for owns a credit card?
South Africa ranks 29th out of 115 countries with data for 2024.
Is owns a credit card rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is down 28.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this South Africa data come from?
The figures come from Global Findex Database, published as part of Owns a credit card (% age 15+). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Owns a credit card in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on Global Findex Database. Retrieved 24 August 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/owns-a-credit-card-percent-age-15/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Owns a credit card (% age 15+)
Unit
% age 15+
Source
Global Findex Database
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
125 places, 625 data points, 2011–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of respondents who report having a credit card, (% age 15+)